Sheriff Marlin Gusman defended the Orleans Parish Prison and the investigation that followed the discovery of three jaw-dropping videos showing inmates using illegal drugs, brandishing a loaded gun, drinking beer and gambling from within the confines of a cell.

A spokesperson for the FBI initially said that a warrant was issued in the matter, but would not elaborate on any further activity involving federal agents. That spokesperson later clarified that the recordings were obtained under subpoena, and not through a warrant.

A representative of the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed the recordings were surrendered under directive of a federal subpoena.

Other sources told the WDSU I-Team that federal investigators have been inside the district courthouse at Tulane and Broad, adjacent to the jail, gathering information.

The disclosure comes one day after Sheriff Marlin Gusman defended his office and its management of the detention facility. Gusman held a news conference hours after testifying – and answering questions about the videos – in a federal consent decree hearing.

One of the recordings shows inmates apparently using illegal drugs, drinking beer, gambling and brandishing a loaded handgun in the now-closed House of Detention in 2009. Another video shows inmate Arthur Johnson wandering Bourbon Street in 2012, when he was supposed to be locked up at Orleans Parish Prison.

The recordings are believed to have been in possession of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office from their discovery until just recently. Questions have been raised regarding the way that agency investigated the misconduct depicted in the videos.

The federal probe is not the only one underway. On Thursday, the WDSU I-Team reported that representatives of Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro also had begun an investigation, centered largely on the recorded evidence that was disclosed in federal court on Tuesday.

Gusman, in a news conference, said his office had conducted a thorough investigation of the videos and did not see a need to involve other agencies.

“We didn’t find any contraband,” Gusman said of the search of cells at OPP. “Without contraband, without knowing whether or not they were drugs, actually – you need to have all of those things to bring a case, and we didn’t think we could sustain a case based on the video."

Gusman also questioned the authenticity of the recordings.

“The video quality looks like it’s been greatly changed up, I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know what to say about that.”

No known disciplinary action was taken regarding staff at the jail and no individuals were ever accused of helping Johnson leave OPP.

Late Friday, Gusman's office, in an email, said discussions regarding the videos date to the time of consent decree negotiations with the federal government.

"At that time, I immediately instructed Sheriff's Office staff to pursue the whereabouts of this video," Gusman said in the email. "Staff determined that the video may be located in a locked safe with an unknown combination. The OPSO contacted the safe manufacturer in California for the combination. We received the combination to the safe March 28. That same day, the OPSO received a subpoena for this video and the FBI was present when the safe was opened.

A copy of the video was returned to the possession of the Sheriff's Office on the evening of March 29, Good Friday."